AXPONA 2024

In Jeff Fox's Notable Audio room, a potential snag turned to genius, when a countertop that wouldn't budge required ditching stuffy seating and letting the equipment sprawl across the counter and floor, transforming the space into an inviting lounge.

Fox presented a J. Sikora Initial Turntable ($10,750) with an Origin Live Zephyr 12” Tonearm ($1700) and an Aidas Durawood Cartridge ($4950). A Sutherland TZ Vibe transimpedance phono preamp ($1400) fed a Naim Uniti Nova integrated amplifier ($6899) and two sets of DeVore Fidelity speakers: micr/Os ($3950/pair) and O/babys ($5700/pair). Wireworld Cables handled connection duties.

Fox's novel arrangement created a relaxed feeling that made the music more enjoyable. Attendees moved freely, soaking it all in. Some lingered, captivated, while others got hands-on with the systems before moving on.

Robert Sikora was in the room to discuss his Initial Turntable and KV MAX 12” Tonearm ($8995). That left Fox free to spin records, including PM Dawn’s The Bliss Album, which unleashed bass with insane extension for such small speakers, and focus. DeVore’s copy of hip-hop party record The Ghetto, by Too Short, played tight, fast, and streamlined: hip-hop straight to the head. What most caught my ear was Beck’s Morning Phase. Many systems are challenged to cleanly capture the scale and low-end tonnage of this record, but this “lounge” system handled it with aplomb.